Engaging young people in the design of a sexual reproductive health intervention: lessons learnt from the Yathu Yathu ("For us, by us") formative study in Zambia

Melvin Simuyaba; Bernadette Hensen; Mwelwa Phiri; Chisanga Mwansa; Lawrence Mwenge; Mutale Kabumbu; Steve Belemu; Kwame Shanaube; null Ab Schaap; Sian Floyd; Sarah Fidler; Richard Hayes; Helen Ayles; Musonda Simwinga

doi:10.1186/s12913-021-06696-7

Engaging young people in the design of a sexual reproductive health intervention: lessons learnt from the Yathu Yathu ("For us, by us") formative study in Zambia

Melvin Simuyaba, Bernadette Hensen, Mwelwa Phiri, Chisanga Mwansa, Lawrence Mwenge, Mutale Kabumbu, Steve Belemu, Kwame Shanaube, Ab Schaap, Sian Floyd, Sarah Fidler, Richard Hayes, Helen Ayles, Musonda Simwinga

Sexual Health including HIV

Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Web of Science-article › peer-review

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Abstract

Background

Meeting the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of adolescents and young people (AYP) requires their meaningful engagement in intervention design. We describe an iterative process of engaging AYP to finalise the design of a community-based, peer-led and incentivised SRH intervention for AYP aged 15-24 in Lusaka and the lessons learnt.

Methods

Between November 2018 and March 2019, 18 focus group discussions, eight in-depth interviews and six observations were conducted to assess AYP's knowledge of HIV/SRH services, factors influencing AYP's sexual behaviour and elicit views on core elements of a proposed intervention, including: community-based spaces (hubs) for service delivery, type of service providers and incentivising service use through prevention points cards (PPC; "loyalty" cards to gain points for accessing services and redeem these for rewards). A total of 230 AYP (15 participated twice in different research activities) and 21 adults (only participated in the community mapping discussions) participated in the research. Participants were purposively selected based on age, sex, where they lived and their roles in the study communities. Data were analysed thematically.

Results

Alcohol and drug abuse, peer pressure, poverty, unemployment and limited recreation facilities influenced AYP's sexual behaviours. Adolescent boys and young men lacked knowledge of contraceptive services and all AYP of pre and post exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention. AYP stated a preference for accessing services at "hubs" located in the community rather than the health facility. AYP considered the age, sex and training of the providers when choosing whom they were comfortable accessing services from. PPCs were acceptable among AYP despite the loyalty card concept being new to them. AYP suggested financial and school support, electronic devices, clothing and food supplies as rewards.

Conclusions

Engaging AYP in the design of an SRH intervention was feasible, informative and considered responsive to their needs. Although AYP's suggestions were diverse, the iterative process of AYP engagement facilitated the design of an intervention that is informed by AYP and implementable.

Original language	English
Article number	753
Journal	BMC Health Services Research
Volume	21
Issue number	1
Number of pages	10
ISSN	1472-6963
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06696-7
Publication status	Published - 2021

Keywords

Sexual and reproductive health
Adolescents and young people
Qualitative
Engagement
Participatory
Incentivised
Community-based
Peer-led
Zambia
MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES
IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE
YOUTH
HIV
ENGAGEMENT
PROGRAM
TRIALS

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2021bhsr0753Final published version, 1.05 MBLicence: CC BY

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Simuyaba, M., Hensen, B., Phiri, M., Mwansa, C., Mwenge, L., Kabumbu, M., Belemu, S., Shanaube, K., Ab Schaap, Floyd, S., Fidler, S., Hayes, R., Ayles, H., & Simwinga, M. (2021). Engaging young people in the design of a sexual reproductive health intervention: lessons learnt from the Yathu Yathu ("For us, by us") formative study in Zambia. BMC Health Services Research, 21(1), Article 753. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06696-7

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title = "Engaging young people in the design of a sexual reproductive health intervention: lessons learnt from the Yathu Yathu ({"}For us, by us{"}) formative study in Zambia",

abstract = "Background Meeting the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of adolescents and young people (AYP) requires their meaningful engagement in intervention design. We describe an iterative process of engaging AYP to finalise the design of a community-based, peer-led and incentivised SRH intervention for AYP aged 15-24 in Lusaka and the lessons learnt. Methods Between November 2018 and March 2019, 18 focus group discussions, eight in-depth interviews and six observations were conducted to assess AYP's knowledge of HIV/SRH services, factors influencing AYP's sexual behaviour and elicit views on core elements of a proposed intervention, including: community-based spaces (hubs) for service delivery, type of service providers and incentivising service use through prevention points cards (PPC; {"}loyalty{"} cards to gain points for accessing services and redeem these for rewards). A total of 230 AYP (15 participated twice in different research activities) and 21 adults (only participated in the community mapping discussions) participated in the research. Participants were purposively selected based on age, sex, where they lived and their roles in the study communities. Data were analysed thematically. Results Alcohol and drug abuse, peer pressure, poverty, unemployment and limited recreation facilities influenced AYP's sexual behaviours. Adolescent boys and young men lacked knowledge of contraceptive services and all AYP of pre and post exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention. AYP stated a preference for accessing services at {"}hubs{"} located in the community rather than the health facility. AYP considered the age, sex and training of the providers when choosing whom they were comfortable accessing services from. PPCs were acceptable among AYP despite the loyalty card concept being new to them. AYP suggested financial and school support, electronic devices, clothing and food supplies as rewards. Conclusions Engaging AYP in the design of an SRH intervention was feasible, informative and considered responsive to their needs. Although AYP's suggestions were diverse, the iterative process of AYP engagement facilitated the design of an intervention that is informed by AYP and implementable.",

keywords = "Sexual and reproductive health, Adolescents and young people, Qualitative, Engagement, Participatory, Incentivised, Community-based, Peer-led, Zambia, MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES, IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE, YOUTH, HIV, ENGAGEMENT, PROGRAM, TRIALS",

author = "Melvin Simuyaba and Bernadette Hensen and Mwelwa Phiri and Chisanga Mwansa and Lawrence Mwenge and Mutale Kabumbu and Steve Belemu and Kwame Shanaube and {Ab Schaap} and Sian Floyd and Sarah Fidler and Richard Hayes and Helen Ayles and Musonda Simwinga",

note = "FTX; DOAJ; (CC BY 4.0)",

year = "2021",

doi = "10.1186/s12913-021-06696-7",

language = "English",

volume = "21",

journal = "BMC Health Services Research",

issn = "1472-6963",

publisher = "BioMed Central",

number = "1",

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Simuyaba, M, Hensen, B, Phiri, M, Mwansa, C, Mwenge, L, Kabumbu, M, Belemu, S, Shanaube, K, Ab Schaap, Floyd, S, Fidler, S, Hayes, R, Ayles, H & Simwinga, M 2021, 'Engaging young people in the design of a sexual reproductive health intervention: lessons learnt from the Yathu Yathu ("For us, by us") formative study in Zambia', BMC Health Services Research, vol. 21, no. 1, 753. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06696-7

Engaging young people in the design of a sexual reproductive health intervention: lessons learnt from the Yathu Yathu ("For us, by us") formative study in Zambia. / Simuyaba, Melvin; Hensen, Bernadette; Phiri, Mwelwa et al.
In: BMC Health Services Research, Vol. 21, No. 1, 753, 2021.

Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Web of Science-article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Engaging young people in the design of a sexual reproductive health intervention: lessons learnt from the Yathu Yathu ("For us, by us") formative study in Zambia

AU - Simuyaba, Melvin

AU - Hensen, Bernadette

AU - Phiri, Mwelwa

AU - Mwansa, Chisanga

AU - Mwenge, Lawrence

AU - Kabumbu, Mutale

AU - Belemu, Steve

AU - Shanaube, Kwame

AU - Ab Schaap, null

AU - Floyd, Sian

AU - Fidler, Sarah

AU - Hayes, Richard

AU - Ayles, Helen

AU - Simwinga, Musonda

N1 - FTX; DOAJ; (CC BY 4.0)

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Background Meeting the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of adolescents and young people (AYP) requires their meaningful engagement in intervention design. We describe an iterative process of engaging AYP to finalise the design of a community-based, peer-led and incentivised SRH intervention for AYP aged 15-24 in Lusaka and the lessons learnt. Methods Between November 2018 and March 2019, 18 focus group discussions, eight in-depth interviews and six observations were conducted to assess AYP's knowledge of HIV/SRH services, factors influencing AYP's sexual behaviour and elicit views on core elements of a proposed intervention, including: community-based spaces (hubs) for service delivery, type of service providers and incentivising service use through prevention points cards (PPC; "loyalty" cards to gain points for accessing services and redeem these for rewards). A total of 230 AYP (15 participated twice in different research activities) and 21 adults (only participated in the community mapping discussions) participated in the research. Participants were purposively selected based on age, sex, where they lived and their roles in the study communities. Data were analysed thematically. Results Alcohol and drug abuse, peer pressure, poverty, unemployment and limited recreation facilities influenced AYP's sexual behaviours. Adolescent boys and young men lacked knowledge of contraceptive services and all AYP of pre and post exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention. AYP stated a preference for accessing services at "hubs" located in the community rather than the health facility. AYP considered the age, sex and training of the providers when choosing whom they were comfortable accessing services from. PPCs were acceptable among AYP despite the loyalty card concept being new to them. AYP suggested financial and school support, electronic devices, clothing and food supplies as rewards. Conclusions Engaging AYP in the design of an SRH intervention was feasible, informative and considered responsive to their needs. Although AYP's suggestions were diverse, the iterative process of AYP engagement facilitated the design of an intervention that is informed by AYP and implementable.

AB - Background Meeting the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of adolescents and young people (AYP) requires their meaningful engagement in intervention design. We describe an iterative process of engaging AYP to finalise the design of a community-based, peer-led and incentivised SRH intervention for AYP aged 15-24 in Lusaka and the lessons learnt. Methods Between November 2018 and March 2019, 18 focus group discussions, eight in-depth interviews and six observations were conducted to assess AYP's knowledge of HIV/SRH services, factors influencing AYP's sexual behaviour and elicit views on core elements of a proposed intervention, including: community-based spaces (hubs) for service delivery, type of service providers and incentivising service use through prevention points cards (PPC; "loyalty" cards to gain points for accessing services and redeem these for rewards). A total of 230 AYP (15 participated twice in different research activities) and 21 adults (only participated in the community mapping discussions) participated in the research. Participants were purposively selected based on age, sex, where they lived and their roles in the study communities. Data were analysed thematically. Results Alcohol and drug abuse, peer pressure, poverty, unemployment and limited recreation facilities influenced AYP's sexual behaviours. Adolescent boys and young men lacked knowledge of contraceptive services and all AYP of pre and post exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention. AYP stated a preference for accessing services at "hubs" located in the community rather than the health facility. AYP considered the age, sex and training of the providers when choosing whom they were comfortable accessing services from. PPCs were acceptable among AYP despite the loyalty card concept being new to them. AYP suggested financial and school support, electronic devices, clothing and food supplies as rewards. Conclusions Engaging AYP in the design of an SRH intervention was feasible, informative and considered responsive to their needs. Although AYP's suggestions were diverse, the iterative process of AYP engagement facilitated the design of an intervention that is informed by AYP and implementable.

KW - Sexual and reproductive health

KW - Adolescents and young people

KW - Qualitative

KW - Engagement

KW - Participatory

KW - Incentivised

KW - Community-based

KW - Peer-led

KW - Zambia

KW - MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES

KW - IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE

KW - YOUTH

KW - HIV

KW - ENGAGEMENT

KW - PROGRAM

KW - TRIALS

U2 - 10.1186/s12913-021-06696-7

DO - 10.1186/s12913-021-06696-7

M3 - A1: Web of Science-article

SN - 1472-6963

VL - 21

JO - BMC Health Services Research

JF - BMC Health Services Research

IS - 1

M1 - 753

ER -

Engaging young people in the design of a sexual reproductive health intervention: lessons learnt from the Yathu Yathu ("For us, by us") formative study in Zambia

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Keywords

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